Latest news with #FLS
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
A Gold For Southern Fracture Service
Press Release – WellSouth The Southern Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has achieved a gold award in the International Osteoporosis Foundations programme for fragility fracture care, based on five administrative and clinical quality domains against 13 performance standards. A local service that is supporting older people to overcome the social, mental and physical effects of fragility fractures resulting from falls, has been awarded an internationally recognised gold standard. The Southern Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has achieved a gold award in the International Osteoporosis Foundation's programme for fragility fracture care, based on five administrative and clinical quality domains against 13 performance standards. WellSouth, the primary health organisation (PHO) for Otago and Southland, delivers the service, which is ACC funded and supported by Osteoporosis New Zealand. WellSouth employs a designated Clinical Lead, Dr Richard Macharg, based in Queenstown, as well as trained Fracture Liaison Co-ordinators. Dr Macharg says this is a significant milestone for the service that is in its fourth full year of delivery, its third year participating in the Australian and New Zealand Fragility Fracture Registry and a step up from previous years' bronze then silver awards. 'Having our service evaluated against international standards and achieving gold has been hard work, but very rewarding,' he says. Worldwide, one in three women and one in five men aged 50 years and over will suffer a fragility fracture as a result of osteoporosis. In New Zealand nearly 16,000 such fractures were found last year, around 840 in the Southern region. Dr Macharg says the team also has its sights set on better engagement with the secondary care sector and spreading the knowledge of the benefits of osteoporosis care and falls prevention. 'We recently, after three years of advocacy and hard work, have been granted access to public hospital radiology reporting data to improve our identification of opportunistically detected Vertebral Fragility Fractures (VFFs). This means more people with osteoporosis can be identified, receive early help and advice and be free from the pain and disability of falls and fractures.' 'This is in line with our wider plan for enhanced engagement with secondary sectors to improve fragility fracture and osteoporosis care across both primary and secondary care, critical as the New Dunedin Hospital is being built, and our population ages.' Dr Macharg says the service works with members in the community to prevent falls or recover from them well, potentially reducing hundreds of bed days per year, and supporting a community that is strong and living well. Modelling by Osteoporosis New Zealand predicts that in the next 3 years, the Southern FLS could reduce up to 1200 bed days in Dunedin and Southland hospitals combined. 'Our team work incredibly hard to ensure they deliver the best service and make a difference in the community. Since last year, we also evaluated 100 more people than the year before.' 'These types of fractures, even those that seem small, can be the warning signs of more serious consequences. When identified and managed appropriately, osteoporosis and falls risk can be addressed and help avert the pain, long-term disability and potentially life-threatening consequences of a major fracture such as that of the hip. Good management after hip fractures will improve recovery and avoid further injury too,' he says. 'We truly believe in the 'Live Stronger for Longer' approach to reduce falls and resulting loss of confidence, which affects everyday life and for some people leads to isolation and loneliness.'
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
A Gold For Southern Fracture Service
A local service that is supporting older people to overcome the social, mental and physical effects of fragility fractures resulting from falls, has been awarded an internationally recognised gold standard. The Southern Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has achieved a gold award in the International Osteoporosis Foundation's programme for fragility fracture care, based on five administrative and clinical quality domains against 13 performance standards. WellSouth, the primary health organisation (PHO) for Otago and Southland, delivers the service, which is ACC funded and supported by Osteoporosis New Zealand. WellSouth employs a designated Clinical Lead, Dr Richard Macharg, based in Queenstown, as well as trained Fracture Liaison Co-ordinators. Dr Macharg says this is a significant milestone for the service that is in its fourth full year of delivery, its third year participating in the Australian and New Zealand Fragility Fracture Registry and a step up from previous years' bronze then silver awards. 'Having our service evaluated against international standards and achieving gold has been hard work, but very rewarding,' he says. Worldwide, one in three women and one in five men aged 50 years and over will suffer a fragility fracture as a result of osteoporosis. In New Zealand nearly 16,000 such fractures were found last year, around 840 in the Southern region. Dr Macharg says the team also has its sights set on better engagement with the secondary care sector and spreading the knowledge of the benefits of osteoporosis care and falls prevention. 'We recently, after three years of advocacy and hard work, have been granted access to public hospital radiology reporting data to improve our identification of opportunistically detected Vertebral Fragility Fractures (VFFs). This means more people with osteoporosis can be identified, receive early help and advice and be free from the pain and disability of falls and fractures.' 'This is in line with our wider plan for enhanced engagement with secondary sectors to improve fragility fracture and osteoporosis care across both primary and secondary care, critical as the New Dunedin Hospital is being built, and our population ages.' Dr Macharg says the service works with members in the community to prevent falls or recover from them well, potentially reducing hundreds of bed days per year, and supporting a community that is strong and living well. Modelling by Osteoporosis New Zealand predicts that in the next 3 years, the Southern FLS could reduce up to 1200 bed days in Dunedin and Southland hospitals combined. 'Our team work incredibly hard to ensure they deliver the best service and make a difference in the community. Since last year, we also evaluated 100 more people than the year before.' 'These types of fractures, even those that seem small, can be the warning signs of more serious consequences. When identified and managed appropriately, osteoporosis and falls risk can be addressed and help avert the pain, long-term disability and potentially life-threatening consequences of a major fracture such as that of the hip. Good management after hip fractures will improve recovery and avoid further injury too,' he says. 'We truly believe in the 'Live Stronger for Longer' approach to reduce falls and resulting loss of confidence, which affects everyday life and for some people leads to isolation and loneliness.'
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Carbofuran, Phorate led to five tiger deaths in MM Hills: FSL report
BENGALURU: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and the micro-cellular check report stated that large quantities of Phorate and Carbofuran were found in the digestive system of the tigress and her four cubs who had died after consuming cattle carcass in Hoogyam Range, Malai Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (MM Hills), 150 metres away from the main road, near the anti-poaching camp on June 26, 2025. The reports showed the presence of 20 micrograms of pesticide in one tissue sample of the dead carnivores. Veterinarians and experts said that these chemicals were used in large quantities to kill them. While the use of Phorate (a lethal compound) is banned by the Central government, the use of Carbofuran has been regulated. 'Even a small quantity of Carbofuran can kill an animal in couple of hours. Carbofuran is colourless, odourless and has no taste. Hence, it is used for such lethal acts. Though it has been found for the first time in Karnataka, it was used to kill tigers in Jim Corbett, Ooty and Madhya Pradesh. Organo Phosphorus Compound was used to poison the leopard two years back, in Karnataka. However, the chemical analysis reports of the tiger poisoning case in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve were not clear as the carcass was over 7-10 days old,' sources from FLS told TNIE.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
More than 100 NHS doctors warn Wes Streeting to honour promise to roll out screening clinics for osteoporosis - or risk thousands of preventable deaths
More than 100 leading NHS doctors have warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting that failing to honour his pre-Election commitment to urgently rollout screening clinics for osteoporosis risks causing thousands of preventable deaths. In a letter shared exclusively with The Mail on Sunday, the medics and healthcare workers say tens of thousands of people with the bone-thinning disease are 'slipping through the net' because of a postcode lottery of care – and 2,500 may have needlessly died in the last 12 months alone – because of a failure by the Government to prioritise tackling the crisis. Mr Streeting told this newspaper that one of his first acts in Government would be to publish a plan to rollout Fracture Liaison Services, or FLS, across all parts of the country. These vital services, which require no new equipment, represent a gold standard in the early diagnosis of the condition and would mean everyone over 50 who breaks a bone could be screened for the disease and given bone-preserving drugs – potentially saving thousands of people from serious injury, disability and an early death. But a year on from that promise, the Government now says FLS will not be available everywhere until 2030. The Government reiterated its commitment to funding the clinics in its 10-Year Health Plan, published on Thursday, but the doctors say any further delay will cause 'harm' to patients – and say officials have still failed to reveal how they plan to achieve the rollout. The doctors, part of the Royal Osteoporosis Society's clinical network who are backing the charity's campaign for universal FLS, wrote: 'Late diagnosis of osteoporosis leads to avoidable fractures, loss of independence, long-term disability and, in many cases, premature death. 'A properly functioning FLS catches patients after their first fracture, enabling early diagnosis and access to proven, cost-effective treatments. They are a classic example of driving the shift from sickness to prevention. 'However, the current postcode lottery for FLS provision means tens of thousands are slipping through the net. Each year that this remains unaddressed, an estimated 2,500 more people die following hip fractures that could have been prevented. 'Any delay in implementation of this important policy will cost lives.' Shadow Health Secretary Edward Argar also called on Mr Streeting to deliver his pledge 'right away, with no more delays'. Mr Argar said: 'I'm calling on the Health Secretary to set out an action plan with a clear timetable, starting now, for the roll-out of FLS to all areas, something which will not only help thousands of people with osteoporosis but will also be saving the NHS money within a few years.' Osteoporosis affects around 3.5million people in the UK and causes bones to thin and weaken, leading to fractures. Most people are only diagnosed after breaking several bones, but in hospitals which have FLS, patients attending with fractures can be screened for osteoporosis with a bone density test called a DEXA scan. Only half of NHS Trusts in England currently have FLS, and rolling it out is estimated to cost £30million. Osteoporosis-related fractures have cost the British economy more than £142million since last July. The Mail on Sunday has been running a War on Osteoporosis campaign to make FLS universal. Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: 'This is a preventative model that's tried and tested, ready to go, and capable of delivering savings before the middle of this Parliament. 'We welcome inclusion in the 10 Year Plan and now call for a speedy implementation plan so we can protect patients and save lives.'
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
New haven for one of UK's rarest mammals to be unveiled in Dumfries and Galloway
The pine marten haven at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre near Newton Stewart will be launched on Saturday. A new haven for a rare mammal will be unveiled near Newton Stewart this weekend. The Vincent Wildlife Trust has been working with Forestry and Land Scotland to create a pine marten haven at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The development, part of the charity's Martens on the Move project, will give visitors the chance to learn about pine martens thanks to a new hide and information boards. And to mark the occasion, the trust and FLS will be offering free guided walks and activities for all ages from 12.30pm on Saturday. Martens on the Move project manager, Dr Stephanie Johnstone, said: 'We are excited to be working with Forestry and Land Scotland in this important location for pine marten recovery in the south of the Scotland. 'VWT and FLS have worked together to support pine marten recovery in Scotland and beyond for many years. Thanks to this partnership and to the National Lottery players, we have been able to create this pine marten haven in Galloway Forest to share the story of this amazing native species with visitors from near and far. 'We've already been engaging and working with local communities and individuals in key areas in southern Scotland to provide new den boxes and to improve habitat for pine martens, which is great news for this recovering species.' Pine martens were once widespread in Galloway but were declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Twelve of the animals were released into the Galloway Forest in the early 1990s and 20 years later, pine marten den boxes began to be installed. The animals are now flourishing in the forest, with the population expanding across Dumfries and Galloway and into Ayrshire. An FLS spokesman said: 'Forestry and Land Scotland has worked with Vincent Wildlife Trust for many years, particularly over the last ten years when the partnership resulted in more than 100 pine martens being translocated to areas in Wales and England. 'We are now delighted to be a part of this new era of pine marten conservation through the Martens on the Move project and we're looking forward to celebrating the launch of the Scottish pine marten haven.'
